This blog has pretty much been “off the air” lately, as my time has been diverted to a family situation. I.e., my mother experienced a “respiratory arrest” last Tuesday afternoon that effectively shut down her lungs and heart. The EMT and ER people managed to keep her going and get her stabilized, and she’s been in a hospital intensive care unit since then. We’re not sure how this situation is going to play out; my mother’s condition is “touch and go”, you might say. There’s been some progress, but also some set-backs. She is fighting incredibly hard to keep going, however, and most everyone involved seems rather impressed by her sheer willpower.

So, I will be back before long, and I’ll have some interesting things to talk about. I’ve been in the “belly of the beast” of the American health care system, and may still have a ways to go through those awful entrails. I’ve had some time to reflect on my family relationships. I’ve been in an urban hospital mixing with people from all parts of the globe. I’ve had my life upset a bit, giving me a chance to look at it from a different angle. It’s all been quite upsetting, and awfully tiring; I’ve lost 5 pounds over the past week (which takes me down to around 120 — but on the bright side, that’s a good excuse to start eating more!). But it’s also been a learning experience. Life as a learning experience; that’s what being an “eternal student of and for life” is all about. I hope to share some of my new lessons on this page very shortly.